Michael Maroney, Esq. v. Fall River, City of - Office of the City Clerk (SPR 20253427)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records December 4, 2025 SPR25/3427 Kenneth E. Fredette, Esq. Assistant Corporation Counsel City of Fall River One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722 Dear Attorney Fredette: I have received the petition of Michael T. Maroney, Esq., of Holland & Knight LLP, appealing the nonresponse of the City of Fall River (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 21, 2025, Attorney Maroney requested the following “records of the Fire Department of the City of Fall River, MA (the “City”), as more particularly described below, related to the fire at the Gabriel House, 261 Oliver Street, Fall River (the “Property”) on July 13, 2025”[:] After reviewing the documents provided by the City of Fall River Public Records Archive . . . we specifically request all additional documents . . . for the time period of January 1, 2019 to the present on the following topics: [1] All personnel lists and staffing records for the Fall River fire stations that responded to the fire at the Property on July 13, 2025, along with records of who was working on July 13, 2025 and who responded to the scene of the fire[;] [2] All documents evidencing the Fall River Fire Department’s response to the June 13, 2025 fire at the Property[;] [3] All documents evidencing staffing levels for Fall River fire stations[;] [4] All written and electronic correspondence with, or internally about, the Property[;] [5] All documents that have been or will be compiled into any file that may be submitted to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System on the causes and investigation of the June 13, 2025 fire at the Property[;] [6] All documents sent by the City to the U.S. Fire Administration in connection with the fire at the Property on July 13, 2025[;] [7] All documents relating to certificates of compliance for installation of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms at the Property[;] One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Kenneth E. Fredette, Esq. SPR25/3247 Page 2 December 4, 2025 [8] All Applications for Standard Permit filed on behalf of the Property[;] [9] All documents relating to, or accompanying, Quarterly Fire Inspections at the Property[;] [10] All documents relating to Cigarette Fire Investigation Checklists filled out in connection with the Property[;] [11] All other signals, reports, or relevant documentation from the fire alarm control panel at the Property . . .[;] [12] All documents evidencing trips made by the City’s Fire Department to the Property[;] [13] All documents concerning violations of any code or NFPA standard at the Property[;] [14] All documents concerning any product recall of sprinklers[;] [15] All documents reflecting how the City’s Fire Department has used or plans to use any grant money received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs or Bureau of Justice Assistance. . . . Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Attorney Maroney petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/3427, was opened as a result. Based on correspondence provided by the City to this office on November 20, 2025, I learned that the City provided Attorney Maroney with a response on August 25, 2025. Subsequently, in an email to this office and the City on November 21, 2025, Attorney Maroney raised numerous objections regarding the substantive nature of the City’s response. It is my understanding that this office has not received a copy of the City’s August 25th response to Attorney Maroney’s request. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1)(g) (requestors shall provide to the Supervisor complete copies of all correspondence associated with the petition). Accordingly, I am unable to opine on Attorney Maroney’s objections to the substantive nature of the City’s response at this time. Conclusion Where this appeal was opened as a result of the City’s lack of a written response, I will consider this administrative appeal closed. If issues remain unresolved, Attorney Maroney may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s August 25th response with the required documents within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Michael T. Maroney, Esq.